The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup continues on Monday with a match between one of the leading English Premier League clubs, Chelsea, and one of the biggest American MLS clubs, LAFC. Chelsea is a global powerhouse set to return to the UEFA Champions League next season after finishing fourth in the EPL. Meanwhile, LAFC were MLS champions in 2022 and won the U.S. Open Cup last season, but currently sit fifth in the Western Conference standings.
The match is scheduled at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, kicking off at 3 p.m. ET on Monday. According to the latest odds, Chelsea are strong favorites at -475, while LAFC are considered underdogs at +1100. A draw is priced at +600, and the total goals line is set at 3.5. Before placing bets, it`s worth reviewing the insights from proven SportsLine soccer expert, Martin Green.
Last year, Green`s predictions were profitable across several areas, including Euro qualifying (+6.30 units), EFL Cup (+4.47), FA Cup (+3.07), and Champions League (+3.05), among others. Those who followed his advice could have significantly increased their funds.
Here are Green`s main picks and soccer predictions for the Chelsea vs. LAFC match:
- Chelsea -1.5 at -120 (1 unit)
- Chelsea to score over 2.5 goals at +108 (0.25 units)
- Both teams to score at -110 (0.25 units)
Chelsea is one of Europe`s biggest clubs, and the talent disparity in this match will be quite significant. Since new ownership took over in 2022, Chelsea has spent $1.6 billion on transfers, whereas LAFC has only spent $88 million since its founding in 2018. Compounding the situation for the MLS side is that Chelsea finished their season in excellent form, while LAFC is in the midst of what has been a disappointing campaign.
“Chelsea should be too strong for LAFC when the teams meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday,” said Green. “Some European teams might be tired after a long season, but that shouldn`t be an issue for the Blues, as they have a very large squad.”
LAFC is at a disadvantage as their league season is currently underway. They will need to balance putting forward a strong performance in this global tournament with keeping their key players healthy to make up ground in the MLS standings when play resumes. Meanwhile, Chelsea concluded a lengthy EPL season but finished in superb form, with wins in eight of their last nine matches across all competitions.
Chelsea ended their season in excellent form, securing their return to the UEFA Champions League. The Blues showed strong attacking potential towards the end of their campaign.
It remains uncertain how seriously clubs will approach this tournament, given its timing and circumstances. However, the inherent contrast between English and American football certainly suits this particular bet. Americans constantly seek validation when given these opportunities, and you can expect the same at the club level as MLS aims to prove its quality. Chelsea, in turn, will seek to further establish the EPL`s global standing while stifling any hopes of parity.
“Chelsea`s defense is a bit leaky, and the Blues might concede on Monday, but they should be able to score a few goals past LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris,” Green noted.
